Legionella Risk Assessment in the Workplace

What is Legionella?

Legionella is a waterborne pathogen or virus with major health risk implications. It is carried in small droplets of water which can be inhaled and then the virus attacks the lungs, it does not respond well to antibiotics and can cause severe illness and even death.

Risk Assessment in the workplace.

Legionella can thrive in any damp environment and is especially prevalent in air conditioning ducts, cooling towers, heating systems, hot tubs, showers and pools. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) require that a risk assessment is carried out in all workplaces where there is potential for Legionella. Those responsible for making sure that a risk assessment is carried out are employers, the self-employed where there is risk to self or to the public, and those who are in control of premises, or systems, where the pathogen is likely to be found.

Access to competent help

The HSE regulations on Risk Assessment for Legionella state that those responsible for the assessment must have access to competent help in order to carry out the assessment. Here at MacDonald Martin we have extensive knowledge of this type of risk and a highly skilled team of assessors that can assist you.

Once the risk has been assessed if it is deemed that there is no risk then nothing further needs to be done unless, obviously, there is a change in the situation, at which point reassessment is necessary. If there is a risk then measures need to be put in place to protect both employees and any members of the public that may come into contact with the bacteria.

What to do next

If you need to carry out a risk assessment please contact us at MacDonald Martin to discuss your needs and get a quote for the initial assessment. Once the Risk Assessment has been done we will advise on anything further you need to do in order to comply with any preventative measures that need to be put in place and assist you to produce a full, written report, showing how you are implementing your strategies to control the growth of the bacteria and keep the environment safe. This may include appointing someone to continue to test for the presence of the bacteria and a whole host of other duties that you may need to carry out in order to comply with the necessary standards required.

MacDonald Martin can help to keep your environment safe. Call us now on 0191 525 1299 to protect you and your staff.